Stars fear defenseman John Klingberg could miss at least three weeks after suffering injury vs. San Jose

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Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg (3) watches from the bench during the third period of their game against St. Louis Blues on Thursday, November 3, 2016 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)

John Klingberg became the latest Stars defenseman to suffer an injury, blocking a shot during Thursday night's game against the Sharks, sidelining him for at least three weeks, coach Jim Montgomery said after the 4-3 win.

"We'll know more tomorrow after he sees the doctors, but you got to figure at least three weeks," Montgomery said. "We're hoping for the best, but we think it's going to be a while."

Klingberg blocked a shot with the left side of his body from Evander Kane with about 14 minutes left in the third period, immediately hunched over and then headed to the bench. He did not return for the game's 13:56.

Montgomery did not say for sure whether Klingberg broke a bone or not.

"It looks like that's what it's going to be, but we got to wait for confirmation from the doctor," Montgomery said.

Klingberg is the Stars' best defenseman, a potential Norris Trophy candidate who was off to an explosive start on the offensive end. He had five goals and eight assists in the team's first 16 games, and was averaging a career-high 25:20 of ice time entering Thursday.

He's also the fourth current Stars defenseman to get hurt. Connor Carrick is on injured reserve after blocking a shot in Detroit. He has not skated since that game. Marc Methot has missed the last four games with a nagging lower-body injury, after he missed time last year with a knee injury. Stephen Johns is dealing with post-traumatic headaches that makes a timetable for his return cloudy.

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Add in AHL injuries to defensemen Gavin Bayreuther and Reece Scarlett and the Stars' defensive depth is being tested less than 20 games into the season.

The club already recalled Dillon Heatherington and Joel Hanley appears to be the next in line for a call up. Hanley was one of the last defensemen (along with Bayreuther) sent to the minors during training camp. He has played 22 career NHL games with the Canadiens and the Coyotes.

The injuries will continue to pile on responsibility for young players like Miro Heiskanen (the 19-year-old rookie) and Julius Honka (the polarizing 22-year-old former first-round pick). Veteran Roman Polak (23:09 of ice time Thursday) will be an important steady hand to guide the defense, and reliable Esa Lindell (27:46) will need to continue to eat minutes.

"We have four regulars that we expected to be playing games that are out right now," Montgomery said. "Wonderful opportunity for the young men that get called up and it's a wonderful opportunity for guys like Honka and Miro to establish themselves in the NHL and be go-to guys. You wanted ice time? You wanted opportunity? Here it is. It's that 'next man up' mentality that you've seen the Patriots have so much success with and we got to try and copy it."

On Thursday night, Montgomery liked what he saw out of the rest of the defensive corps, in particular Honka.

"They raised their level of play," Montgomery said. "I thought beside Esa and Miro playing the way they usually do, I thought Honka really raised his level of play. I thought he was possessing pucks better. I thought he was decisive whether he was carrying the puck or passing the puck. It was great to see him step up with John going down."